Adam Johnson

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 2013 'You know you are in the hands of someone who can tell a story ... fantastic' ZADIE SMITH Pak Jun Do knows he is special. He knows he must be the son of the master of the orphanage, not some kid dumped by his parents - it was obvious from the way his father singled him out for beatings. He knows he is special when he is picked as a spy and kidnapper for his country, the glorious Democratic Republic of North Korea. He knows he must find his true love, Sun Moon, the greatest opera star who ever lived, before it's too late. He knows he's not like the other prisoners in the camp. He's going to get out soon. Definitely

The Orphan Master's Son

Josh Warner

Kathy Jedrzejczyk

This was a very different novel than any I've read. I liked the creativity of the plot time changes. The author uses some unique points of view and allows the plot to move in different directions.

It was interesting to have a glimpse of a culture that we don't know very much about. There are so many layers in this book. Love, adventure, tragedy, drama, etc. The author included many stories he had heard from real life defectors of North Korea.

It took me some time initially to get pulled into the story, but I think that was partially because I was reading it in very short intervals. Soon enough I was very interested in the main character and where this book would take him.

A 2022 favourite. This is a book with the rare ability to make me think differently about the world while simultaneously being a complete page-turner. Routinely stayed up late with this one.

Sarah Erle

Jacob Mishook

Weird, wonderful, and disturbing. Powerful work of imagination, and deservedly won the Pulitzer. Very happy my bookseller friend pushed it on me when it was still out in hardback.

Dana Kraft

Read this because my high schooler is reading it for school. I'm surprised it was assigned as there's some pretty grim stuff in here. That said, I really enjoyed the story as it takes unexpected and thought-provoking turns throughout.   Two things struck me:
- the theme of "stories" vs "people" reminded me of Life of Pi. Obviously this story takes it to a whole different level.
- I'm over the dystopian fiction craze but I believe that many of the circumstances described actually exist in N Korea, so it didn't bother me.

Favorite quote:
When Buc was gone, Dr. Song turned to Jun Do. "Where we are from," he said, "stories are factual. if a farmer is declared a music virtuoso by the state, everyone had better start calling him maestro. And secretly, he'd be wise to start practicing the piano. For us, the story is more important than the person. If a man and his story are in conflict, it is the man who must change... But in America, people's stories change all the time. In America, it is the man who matters.  Perhaps they will believe your story and perhaps not, but you, Jun Do, they will believe you."

Anna Ling

Loved this to death - captivating, beautiful, seriously intriguing.

I swear, once you pick this up you will not be able to put it down.

Jane McCullough

This was such a satisfying book in so many ways: the characters, tension, the larger subject of N Korea as the setting which, in some ways, became its own uber-character. A remarkable read.

Melody Izard

So, my husband got this for Christmas: . 
I made him hang it in his office. 

Included with this lovely print was this:
 

They are both from Archie McPhee and are meant as jokes - but after finishing this book I realize how deadly serious these two items are. 

I could make up a story about the items pictured, and how we obtained them. I could tell you the story over a dinner of oxen semen and flowers and that might not make any sense - but it would be the best story in all of North America and at least you didn't have to hear it over a loud speaker. 

You might be confused and uncertain, but strangely amused and maybe a bit enchanted and I would encourage you to keep on and stick with it and endure the small bits of pain and believe in Casablanca and Disneyworld because damn it all, I loved this book. And the Dear Leader is dead.

Garren

Brilliant, great, and sad, portrayal of life in North Korea. This is a must read.

Francine Corry

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST 'You know you are in the hands of someone who can tell a story. Fantastic' ZADIE SMITH The award-winning and New York Times bestselling novel: a dark and witty story of the rise of a young orphan in the surreal and tyrannical regime of North Korea Young Pak Jun Do is convinced he is special. He knows he must be the unique son of the master of the orphanage, and definitely not some kid dumped by his parents. Surely it was obvious from the way his father singled him out for regular beating? He finds his calling when he is picked as a spy and kidnapper for his nation, the glorious Democratic Republic of North Korea. He knows he must find his true love, Sun Moon, the greatest opera star who ever lived, before it's too late. He knows he's not like the other prisoners in the camp. He's going to get out soon. Isn't he? --------------- 'An addictive novel of daring ingenuity' DAVID MITCHELL 'Excavates the very meaning of life' NEW YORK TIMES

The Orphan Master's Son

Reviews